Bouwen met Kwamala (Building with Bamboo)

In Kwamalasamutu, traditional knowledge and the forest come together in a new exploration of bamboo as a sustainable building material. Led by Forest93 Ambassador and architect Lindsey van de Wetering, the project brings together Indigenous building traditions, local natural resources and contemporary design.

The project documents traditional architecture and explores the structural possibilities of bamboo found in and around Kwamalasamutu. Through research, fieldwork, visual workbooks and knowledge exchange, the aim is not simply to preserve knowledge, but to make it accessible for new generations to learn, experiment and build upon.

The first results are already tangible. Designs for a bamboo building were shared with the community, while residents independently created a bamboo interior in the Stichting Tewe office. The project is also opening conversations about bamboo as a potential source of local entrepreneurship, skills development and future income.

Our goal: connect cultural heritage and traditional knowledge with sustainable innovation.

Our impact: preserving and transferring Indigenous building knowledge, strengthening local capacity, encouraging nature-inclusive construction and exploring new opportunities for communities in southern Suriname.

Through Forest93, these lessons are shared beyond Kwamalasamutu — helping more people discover what can happen when nature, culture and innovation are built together.

Partial financing for the documentation of the bamboo research was received through Het Cultuurfonds (the Netherlands).